Locomotive cradle and ash pan



July 20,1926. 1,593,467

H. M. PFLAGER LOGOMOTIVE CRADLE AND ASH PAN Filed Sept. 14. 1925 I Patented July 20, 1926.

- UNITED STATES v 1,593,467 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY M. PFLAGER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR '10 COMMONWEALTH STEEL COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOCOMOTIVE CRADLE ANI) ASH PAN.

Application filed September My invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in the construction of an ash pan, such as is used under the fire box, integrally with a vehicle body frame member. An obvious embodiment of my invention is in a locomotive cradle and ash pan formed integrally. Preferably I form these members in a one-piece casting, but they could be otherwise formed integrally.

The objects of my invention ,are to provide a rigid structure of light weight and at low cost and to eliminate the necessary machining and fitting and other delay and expense involved in the production and assembling of separate cradle and ash pan units. v

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention- Figure half of a locomotive cradle and ash pan embodying my invention, showing the rear end of a locomotive bed.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the same, showing the rear driver, trailer wheel, and mud ring.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section 'online 3- 3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4' and 5 are similar cross sections illustrating modifications of my invention.-

In the drawings, the rear end of the locomotive main bedis indicated at 1, the same terminating near the rear pedestal 2 and having bolted thereto the 'rearwardly projecting cradle comprising side members 3, a front transverse member 4, a rear trans-- verse member 5, a foot plate 6, a draw-bar pocket 7 side bearing brackets 8, brake hanger lugs 9, and brackets 10 to which plates P may be secured for supporting the mug ring M. Each of the cradle side members'3 includes a vertical wall 11, and inwardly facing top and bottom flanges 12 and 13, respectively. Preferably a portion of the member 3 will beprovided with outwardly facing ribs 14 throughout a substantial portion of its length but, disregarding these ribs, the side member issubstantially channel-shape in cross section. 7

.Formed integrally with member 3 is a vertical element 15 extending across the inner ends of flan es 12 and 13 and projecting below lower ange wall 13 for a portion of the length of member 3 to form the depending side wall 16 of an ash pan, pref-- erably reinforced with ribs 16. Throughout 1 is a longitudinal top view of one- 14, 1925. Serial No. 56,217.

a substantially larger, portion of the entire length of member 3, element 15 projects upwardly and outwardly to form the laterally left open to permit the free circulation of air through the same to avoid undue heating and weakening of the main vertical wall 11 of member 3. Additional openings 19 may be provided in member 3 to increase the circulation of air, but these are optional.

With the above described construction, the ash pan and cradle are formed complete in one casting, and in this unitary structure the cradle and ash pan reinforce each other so that greater strength is secured with the thicknesses of material heretofore used, or the various elements may be reduced in thickness and weight and their previous strength maintained.

While in my preferred structure I illustrat the complete ash pan formed integrally with the cradle, it may be desired to form the ash pan hopperv only or the upper portion of the ash pan only with the tion referred to in which the lower portion 23 of the hopper is bolted to the cradle side member 24. The upper portion 25 of the ash pan is formed integrally with the cradle member 24:," its lower portion extending across the inner ends of the flanges of member 24 to form-a smooth inner surface and protect the main wall 26 of member24= from excessive heat. 7

While I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a cradle ash pan which is a complet unit, applicable to and removable from the remainder of the locomotive superstructure, the ash pan could be formed integrally with a locomotive bed or main frame which did not terminate at the drivers but projected rearwardly beyond the fire box.

My invention consists broadly in the formation of one or more ash pans-integrally with a portion of the body of the vehicle superstructure. In my copending applications, Serial Numbers 56,215 and 56,216 of even date herewith I describe and claim the formation of ash pans integrally with truck frame members as distinguished from the formation with a body member, and I contemplate in the commercial development of 'my invention all embodiments thereof, distinguished from the truck structures referred to, as are included in the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway vehicle body frame, a portion forming part of an ash pan.

2. In a railway vehicle body frame, a vertical surface forming part of an ash pan.

3. A railway vehicle body member having an integral downward projection forming the side of an ash an.

4. A railway vehicle body member having an integral upward projection formmg the laterally extendin portion of an ash pan.

5. A railway ve iicle body member having integral upward and downward projections forming, respectively, the upper and lower portions of an ash pan.

6. A railway vehicle longitudinal frame member box-shape in cross section with the top and bottom and one side wall forming stress-resisting elements and with its other side wall forming part of an ash pan.

7. A railway vehicle longitudinal frame member box-shape in cross section with the top and bottom and one side wall forming stress-resisting elements and with its other side wall projecting above the top of the box-section and forming the upperportion of an ash pan.

8. A railway vehicle longitudinal frame member box-shape in cross section with the top and bottom and one side wall forming stress-resisting elements and with its other side wall projecting beyond the bottom of the box section and forming part of an ash pan hopper.

9. A railway vehicle longitudinal frame member box-shape in cross section with the comotive cra pan, said portion having top and bottom and one side wall forming stress-resisting elements and with its other side wall projecting above and below the box section and forming the side of an ash pan and hopper.

10. A locomotive cradle and ash pan formed integrally.

11. A locomotive cradle and ash pan hopper formed integrally.

12. A oneiece casting comprising a locomotive era 10 and ash pan.

13. A oneiece casting com rising a lo 1e and ash pan si es and ends. iece casting comprising a locomotive era le and an ash pan hopper.

15. oneiece casting comprising a locomotive cra le and the upper sides ofan ash pan.

16. A locomotive cradle having a portion of each side box-shape in cross section with its inner wall forming part of an ash open ends to permit the passage of air therethrough.

17. A locomotive cradle having a portion of each side box-shape in cross section with its inner wall forming part of an ash pan, said portion having one or more of its other walls perforated at intervals to admit air to the exterior of said ash pan forming wall.

18. In a one-piece casting, longitudinal cradle sides and ash pan end walls extend- 14. A oneing transversely of and uniting said sides.

19. In a one-piece castin cradle sides and ash pan en ing transversely and depending of said sides.

20. A oneiece casting comprising a locomotive era le with an ash pan and drawbar pocket formed integrally therewith.

-21. A oneiece casting comprising a locomotive cra le with s aced side members, transverse ash pan en walls uniting said members, and transverse end members spaced from said ash pan walls and uniting said members.

22. A one-piece casting com rising a locomotive cra le with outwardl j projecting side bearing brackets and ash pan extensions formed integrally.

longitudinal walls extendof and uniting said sides, ash pan walls below the level In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 9th day of September, 1925.

H. M. PFLAGER. 

